Prayer Meeting (Pray Big)(Prayer Meeting)

Introduction

Ephesians 3:14–21 NIV

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Introduction

During my holidays in Majorca I got to read about 6 books in a week (Something that was regular for spurgeon) One of the books I read was Alistair Beggs “Pray Big” there is nothing particularly groundbreaking in this book but it did serve as a wonderful reminder of how we ought to pray. I would like to share with you the main points that this book picks out tonight to help encourage us to “pray big” and expect “big things from God” Of course the teaching tonight is not from Alistair Begg but from the Apostle Paul.

Big Idea.

Tonight is not about teaching the importance of prayer (your here tonight because you believe in the importance of prayer) I would like to share with you the main points that this book picks out tonight to remind us to “pray big” and expect “big things from God” Of course the teaching tonight is not from Alistair Beg.

Get your bibles out, Pen and Paper.

The Nature of Prayer.

Prayer is Dependant

To Pray is an admission and expression of dependance. Paul achieved great things, his ministry literally changed the world. Few men have done as much, or had as great an impact, as this short stooping near-sights Jewish convert. But Paul never thought he did any of it alone he knew that it was a privilidged task.

Ephesians 3:7–9 NIV

I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.

Our prayers, reveal weather we really think we need God or Wether deep down we are self assured. If Paul knew he needed to bow his knees before the father what about us? If Jesus followed up his instructions to the disciples by prayer what about us? If Jesus the Son knew that he needed to pray what about us? Heart attitude of Dependance is what counts.

Challenge: Do we recognise our dependance upon God. “For this reason I bow the knee”

Prayer is Spiritual (But not Impractical)

Its sometimes said that Christians are so heavenly minded so as to be no earthly use. But thats not Pauls understanding.

Philippians 4:6 NIV

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

We must remind ourselves that we have been raised with Christ ino the heavenly place. You and I have been made part of a family that will never come to an end. One day you will live in a new heaven and earth, you will see God face to face, and with a heart no longer burdened and distracted by sin and a body no longer broken and decaying in frailty, you will praise Him. Think about that.

Many a time are prayers are reactionary, We tend to pray as if what We need most is help with this practical issuer or that specific life problem, we are to take everything to God in prayer but we

We often rush to pray for practical things and needs, but We ought to focus and fix our eyes on eternity if we are to pray big. The spiritual ought to preceed the practical.

“seek first the kingdom of God” thats prioritising spiritual things.

The Hub the center of our lives is always spiritual.. Think about a bycycal wheel, the hub there is the key to all the spokes. If the hub is ill fitting it will be inneffective and insufficient in enabling the wheel to take you in the direction you need to go. The hub is crucial, when it comes to each of us,

The imeediatly practical is important, but we must start with spiritual things, what we need most in our lives is to understand the Gospel and how it relates to every area and challenge we face. When we do this our prayers will be big.

Challenge, What we need most in our lives

What to Pray For?

1) Pray for Focus

Ephesians 1:18 NIV

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,

Ephesians 1:17–18 NIV

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,

I pray the eyes of our hearts to be opened. what does he want them to see?

All that is theirs

They are chosen (4)

They were predestined to be adopted, children, loved as Jesus is loved

Redeemed by the blood of Jesus, the realityu of knowing they are forgiven

brought into the great plan of God to reconcile all things 9-10)

An inheretence of eternity ahead of them and Gods Spirit swelling in them.

He is praying not for new sight but for foccused sight. A blind man cannot cure his eysight it must be from the Lord, pray for focus pray that the eyes of our hearts would be opened, so we see more and more of Christ. The more we see him the bigger our prayers.

Pray for Focus

2) Pray for Hope

When we talk of hope we often talk of uncertainty, I hope I dont trip, I hope It doesnt rain.

Biblical hope is different it is certain. God wants us to know the what is the hope to which he has called us. (eph 1:18) It is something that has been promised by God. Pray that this hope would be experienced, not just understood but experienced.

Some people might say for hope to be hope it cant be certain or its not really hope, But the hope God gives is different It is a reality that is absolutly assured, even if it is not yet fully experienced.

Pauls prayer is that we might know this hope.

Pray for Hope

3) Pray for Riches

Ephesians 1:18 NIV

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,

One day you and I are going to be very very very rich because we have an inhgeritence ahead of us. The Holy Spirit dwelling in us is the Guarentee of that inheritence.

One day you and I are going to be very very very rich because we have an inhgeritence ahead of us. The Holy Spirit dwelling in us is the Guarentee of that inheritence.

(Illustration of Full board on Holiday)

The inheritance is God. The riches of gods Glory. Paul prays that we would “know” this. We will gaze upon God in Glory in such a way that we cannot just now because of our limitations, but we will see him as he is. We are the Lords inheritence and the Lord is also our inheritence, we get the better end of the dewal by far.

Riches I heed not nor mans empty praise; thou mine inheritence now and always. The extent to which we understand we are rich will change the way we live here and now. (

Pray for Riches.

4) Pray for Power

Ephesians 1:19 NIV

and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength

Ephesians 1:19 NIV

and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength

Not many of us feel powerful, we have fears, regrets, worries and concerns. Paul is praying that we would know the power of the ressurection, Christs ascention and dominion above all things.

When we experience his power there is no reason why we cannot obey God or witness to God. Praying for power means praying for the the empowerment of Gods Spirit. Without Gods power we can do nothing.

5) Pray for Love

Sumnmary

Ephesians 3:17–19 NIV

so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Scottish Calvinist love to focus on our total depravity as sinners, its not uncommon to here of ouselves referred to as worms and wretches, as if that was the only language the bible uses to describe Gods people. If God was to reveal to us the full extent of our depravity in one go we wouldnt be able to bear up under the weight of it. The truth is we are more sinful than we ever dared realise but thats only part of who we are, we are also more loved than we ever dared dream, we are infinitly valuable to God because he bestows eternal value on us, we are preciopus, Redeamed loved, Chosen,

that we are “worms” When struggling with low self image these words can cause more harm than good.

We are more sinful than we ever dared realise but, we are infinitly valuable to God, preciopus, Redeamed loved, Chosen,

Sumnmary (Pray Big)

Pray Using Alistairs Prayers.